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Ryder, Koivu lead Canadiens past Thrashers

Jan 10, 2007 - 5:27 AM MONTREAL (Ticker) -- Although his team fell behind early, Michael Ryder proved it is more important to finish strong.

Ryder scored two goals - including the go-ahead tally - and captain Saku Koivu scored his 500th career point as the Montreal Canadiens rebounded from a two-goal deficit for a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.

Montreal snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in its last seven outings by defeating Atlanta for the second time in as many meetings this season. The Canadiens downed the Thrashers, 3-1, on November 18.

"There was more work, more shots at the net," Canadiens coach Guy Carboneau said. "There was a good feeling but we still had to win a game. This 60 minutes was important for us."

Ryder broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third period when he wristed defenseman Sheldon Souray's setup in the slot between goaltender Kari Lehtonen's pads for his 12th tally of the campaign.

"I knew that I had to start playing well again," Ryder said. "I said to myself I have to concentrate on being simple and not try to do too much. ... Tonight, I did that and it turned out all right."

Koivu reached his milestone on a power play with 2:47 to play by feeding Ryder for his second tally of the night and first multi-goal game of the campaign. It was his 25th assist of the season.

"These fans, the people here have been here for me so many times and getting a standing ovation really, really felt good," Koivu said.

"Saku has the team in his heart, the players in his heart, the city in his heart," Carboneau said. "It was a great moment to see the fans' appreciation of all he has done."

The Canadiens trailed, 2-0, before Tomas Plekanec redirected Mike Johnson's feed past Lehtonen's blocker with 4:58 left in the second session. Guillaume Latendresse tied the score just 51 seconds into the third period with his ninth goal.

Netminder Cristobal Huet made 28 saves and raised his record to 17-8-3 for the Canadiens, who have won eight of their last 11 encounters against the Thrashers.

The victory was extra special for Souray, who was named earlier Tuesday to the Eastern Conference All-Star squad.

"There (are) other guys that could have been selected,' Souray said. "I mean it's an honor and to think the fans think that highly of me is pretty humbling."

Brad Larsen and defenseman Greg de Vries scored goals and Lehtonen stopped 30 shots for Atlanta, which lost its fourth consecutive contest.

"We were playing good defensively," Lehtonen said. "I really don't know why we keep losing like this. We keep playing a great 40 minutes and then everything just falls apart, and I don't have any reason why that happens."

"They took advantage of their chances and we didn't," Atlanta coach Bob Hartley said. "The line is very fine between a win and a loss and right now, we're always placing ourselves on the wrong side of the line."